Despite the Peace and Democratic Society process, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has continued its policy since 2019 of directing families of (People Defence Forces) HPG members to gather in front of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP buildings. This time, guided by state and government officials, families of HPG members marched to the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party headquarters in Wan (Van). Notably, families of HPG fighters who died in chemical weapons attacks by the Turkish army issued calls to “surrender” during the march.

 

CALL TO ‘SURRENDER’ TO FALLEN HPG FIGHTER

 

At the demonstration at the DEM Party building in Wan, Nazlı Sancar, mother of YJA Star guerrilla fighter Şerda Sosin (Şeyma Sancar), spoke to Demirören News Agency (DHA), urging her deceased daughter to “surrender.” Şeyma Sancar died alongside seven other guerrillas in a chemical weapons attack by the Turkish military in April 2022 in Zap’s Çiyareş region. The HPG Press Liaison Centre announced on 21 May 2022 the deaths of Şeyma Sancar and seven fellow fighters. Although Şeyma Sancar died three years ago, AKP-affiliated media has brought Nazlı Sancar’s “surrender” call back to the headlines.

 

RUDAW OUTPACES PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA

 

KDP-affiliated Rudaw also reported the story featuring Şeyma Sancar’s mother’s call. Despite official HPG statements confirming that Şeyma Sancar and seven others died in the chemical weapons attack, media outlets published the news accompanied by photographs and reports, drawing public attention.

 

WHO WAS ŞEYMA SANCAR?

 

Born in Wan, Şeyma Sancar joined the HPG in 2012. In 2019, she was deployed to the Zap region as a YJA Star commander. In April 2022, she died in the Turkish military’s chemical weapons attack in Zap’s Çiyareş area alongside Faysal Yılmaz (Rohat Dengdar), Zozan Erenç (Şevîn Şemzînan), Emral Sezgin (Xemgîn Qelqelî), Sîmav Hesen (Zilan Besê), Naila Mezeh (Denîz Reş), Evîn Şêxo (Sema Agirîn), and Bekrî Derwêş (Demhat Derwêş).

 

MA / Ozgur Paksoy